Clarification from the Ministry of Natural Resources

While the Kurdistan Regional Government continues to emphasize all its constitutional rights and authorities as a federal entity under the permanent Constitution of Iraq, which clearly recognizes the Region’s rights and authorities, we reaffirm that the two deals signed by our Ministry with the American companies HKN and WesternZagros are based on existing contracts with new US investment and new operating companies.

These deals are based on contracts signed many years ago, which have also been upheld as legal and valid by Iraqi courts. There is no legal dispute concerning them. The recent change has been in the operating companies, in accordance with the legal and contractual framework of the existing agreements.

Both American companies have been active in the Kurdistan Region for many years and are among the Region’s primary oil producers. They are not new investors.

The aim of these agreements is to increase domestic natural gas production to meet the fuel needs of power generation stations, with the goal of delivering uninterrupted electricity services across all parts of Iraq.

Ministry of Natural Resources
Kurdistan Regional Government
May 20, 2025